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Everyman | Reading Pointers for Sharper Insights

Reading Pointers for Sharper Insights

Everyman is one of the last and most well known plays of the 15th century genre called Morality Plays. The author of Everyman is unknown, but the play is believed to be the English translation of an earlier Dutch version, Elckerlyc, written in 1495. Although it’s unclear exactly when Everyman was written, the last early editions of the play were printed between 1521 and 1537. The following information will assist you in understanding Everyman and the role it played in medieval society.

  • Morality Plays were developed after 1485 as allegorical presentations of the conflict between virtue and vice. Most of the people during this time were illiterate, and morality plays were used to instruct people in a manner they could identify with.

  • These plays were often parables (i.e., stories that teach a lesson). The lesson for Everyman, the character, is that death is inevitable, so one must prepare for God’s judgment by leading a virtuous life.

  • The Catholic Church was an integral part of medieval society. People led their lives based on the doctrines of the Church, as presented by priests, who frequently used stories to teach biblical precepts.

  • In addition to morality, religious ideology was the focus of many plays, including these two.

Characters:

In contrast to modern plays that use multi-dimensional characters who have individual qualities, Everyman, as is typical of most Morality Plays, employs one-dimensional characters to represent people, things, events, or symbols. For example, some characters in the play stand for specific traits, occurrences, or people:

  • Everyman – the common individual; the ordinary church attendee

  • Fellowship – friends, acquaintances, colleagues

  • Goods – material possessions, wealth

  • Good Deeds – virtues

  • Knowledge – intellect

Themes:

Several closely related themes are presented in Everyman, which are represented by the words and actions of the characters. As you read Everyman, the following concepts should become apparent:

  • Giving to others is more rewarding than acquiring wealth and possessions.

  • People are responsible for their own actions.

  • The only thing humans can take with them in death is the virtue they lived with during life.

  • Overindulgence leads to sin.

  • God will forgive those who repent.

  • Virtuous living is the path to salvation.